Island Eats
Visitors to Galveston soon discover there is an abundance of great restaurants, and deciding between them for breakfast, lunch or dinner can be tough. Suggested below are just a few of my favorites.
• Black Pearl Oyster Bar - 327 23rd Street
The Black Pearl Oyster Bar is a popular neighborhood hangout with a New Orleans motif. It serves raw and cooked cajun and creole seafood staples. Known for great food, large portions and friendly service.
- Maceo’s Spice and Import - 2706 Market Street
Maceo’s, in business for over 70 years, is a great spice shop and amazing sandwich shop. Stop in between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and order one of its authentic New Orleans-style muffalettas You’ll love it!
• Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza - 416 21st Street
Mama Teresa’s enjoys a fine reputation for some of the most authentic Italian cuisine in Galveston. Order a pizza, to share as an appetizer, then look at the menu and pick out a couple of the entrees to try. You’ll be so glad you did!
• Miller’s Seawalll Grill - 1824 Seawall Blvd.
Miller’s is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Expect a line if you opt to go at prime times. Miller’s has a fairly extensive menu; making choices can be difficult. But, with its great view of the water, Miller’s is the perfect place to go, sit awhile and enjoy its warm and friendly atmosphere and service!
• Mosquito Cafe - 628 14th Street
The Mosquito Cafe serves breakfast and lunch and features large portions of casual American eats with an eclectic touch. The cafe is housed in an 1870s building with a sunny, dog-friendly patio. It offers great desserts from Patty Cakes (across the street and with same owners).
• Original Mexican Cafe - 1401 Market Street
The longest continuously operating restaurant in Galveston is housed in its original two-story location. Great for lunch or dinner. The Original features a full bar and happy hour specials, as well as its multi-year, award-winning margaritas.
• Shrimp ‘N Stuff – 3901 Ave O
Go and enjoy a casual lunch and dinner. Order at the counter and wait (only a short time) for waiter to serve you. Most islanders think Shrimp ‘N Stuff has the best fried shrimp and catfish on the island. Shrimp ‘n Stuff is within walking distance of The Bungalow, so you might want to walk over and dine inside or out on the patio and, then, walk off a big meal on your way back “home.”
• Shykatz – Corner of 15th and Ave L
Super casual diner. Place your order at the counter and wait for staff to serve you later - at times, much later than you would like. But, the food is truly worth the wait. Just order more coffee or lemonade! Great for breakfast and lunch or just for coffee and a great dessert!
• Star Drug Store - 510 23rd Street
Want to re-visit an old-fashioned soda fountain? Well, here is where you’ll find it - in the oldest drug store in Texas. Order up a hearty breakfast or an old-fashioned hamburger and shake for lunch, and you’ll leave happy! Also, while you’re there, check out the contents of the floor-to-ceiling, glass display cases that line three walls.
• Sunflower Bakery and Cafe – 512 14th Street
Casual cafe-style dining inside or outside on the covered patio. Great for breakfast and lunch. Everything made from scratch, including its vast assortment of pies and pastries. The line forms early at the Sunflower, so plan accordingly.
• Taquilo’s - 2101 Postoffice Street
Casual Mexican and Tex-Mex fare for lunch and dinner. Dine inside and enjoy the fun and colorful decor or outside and watch people strolling around on the street. Dog-friendly (outside). Fun place. Really good margaritas!
Island Fine Dining
• BLVD. Seafood - 2804 Ave R 1/2
• Gaido’s - 3828 Seawall Blvd.
• Grotto Restorante - 5222 Seawall Blvd.
• Kritikos Grill - 4908 Seawall Blvd.
• Number 13 Prime Steak and Seafood - 7809 Broadway
• Riondo’s Ristorante - 2328 Strand
• Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar - 2028 Postoffice
• Saltwater Grill - 2017 Postoffice
• Shearn’s Seafood and Prime Steaks - 7 Hope Blvd.
• The Steakhouse - 5222 Seawall Blvd.
• Trattoria Vigna - 412 20th Street
• Varga’s Cut and Catch - 2102 Postoffice
• Willie G’s Seafood & Steaks - 2100 Harborside
Island Night Life
• Buckshot Saloon - 2400 Market Street
Country-music venue featuring live bands and line dancing, plus house shots and cocktails.
• Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe - 413 20th Street
Down-home music venue and bar, featuring live blues, jazz and acoustic bands, with big-name and local acts.
• B. Jiggers Lounge - 5002 Seawall
Great live entertainment with a view of the beach. Voted "Favorite Live Music Venue" by visitors to Galveston.com and Voted "Best Live Music" by readers of the Galveston County Daily News.
• Sharky’s Tavern - 504 25th Street
The menu here features an array of wood-fired pizzas. Setting is upbeat and fun with rustic decor. Live music too!
• The Press Box - 2401 Postoffice
The Press Box features the "longest happy hour" on the Isle. Bar food is great and includes signature burgers, steaks and salads. A large-screen TV and several monitors are here for fans to watch a game or two.
• 3 Doors Down - 102 20th Street
Cool and cozy bar. No hard liquor here, but lots of beer and wine options. Live music and patrons dancing are the norm.
Island Parks and Playgrounds
Galveston offers a wide variety of places to go to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether one is interested in hanging out at the beach, entertaining the kids at a neighborhood park or visiting an historic landmark, Galveston delivers.
Babe’s Beach • Betty Head Oleander Garden Park • Big Reef Nature Park • Crystal Beach • Darragh Park • East End Beach • East End Lagoon Nature Preserve • Fort Crockett Park Fort Travis Park • Galveston Island State Park • Porretto Beach • Port of Galveston • Sea Shell Park • Seawall Urban Park • Saengerfest Park • Seawolf Park • Stewart Beach • Sunny Beach
Island Shopping
Browsing the shops of Galveston is great fun and a must-do for visitors to the island. Whether you’re looking for antiques, beachwear, coastal decor, jewelry, souvenirs or a unique, one-of-a-kind treasure, you’ll find it here. Below is just a small sampling of the local favorites.
• Blu Boutique - 2425 Strand Street
Blu sells a wide variety of apparel, jewelry, flip flops, housewares and fashion accessories. Blu also has a bar located inside the boutique with a lounge for those oh so weary shoppers. Often, live music is in the offing too.
• Flea by the Sea - 2501 Market Street
Great little antique shop with great finds for those out looking for the sake of looking. Shop carries lots of furniture and home decor..
• Hendley Market - 2010 Strand Street
Since 1979, Hendley Market has been located in the historic Hendley Row, built in 1859. Items offered include antique medical instruments, antique books, Victorian era and retablos from Mexico. The store also carries over 200 nativities and santons from around the world and our handcrafted Cider Beetle and Cider Deer.
• Murdoch’s - 2215 Seawall Blvd.
Murdoch’s is the largest souvenir and gift shop on Galveston Island. It’s the go-to place for Galveston t-shirts, mugs and caps, shells and island decor.
• Strand Brass and Christmas on The Strand - 2115 Strand Street
This adorable gift shop offers an eclectic collection of glassware, candles and decorative Christmas objects. Need a Galveston tree ornament as a souvenir? Look here first.
• The Admiralty - 2221 Strand Street
The Admiralty is a lovely nautically-themed gift shop selling beautiful model ships, plus stylish decor, jewelry and toys.
• Tina’s - 2326 Strand Street
This upscale boutique offers casual and not-so-casual women's clothing, jewelry, toiletries, candles and home-decor items. There’s a sale rack at the back of the store - worth checking out every time you go.
• Visker & Scrivener - 406 23rd Street
Visker & Scrivener is a creator and purveyor of fine writing quills, inks, scrolls, leather-bound journals and other oddities inspired by times past. It researches, develops, hand-crafst and provides tools for artists, writers, calligraphers, and those aspiring to be.
Island Sights
Galveston boasts its attractions are diverse and many, with something great to see for everyone in the family. And, it’s true! The island has many fine examples of Victorian architecture, museums, historical landmarks and more. Offered below is a listing of some of them. You can learn more about each of these, and others, by visiting www.galveston.com/.
Ashton Villa • Bishop’s Palace • Bryan Museum • East End Historical District • Galveston Children’s Museum • Galveston County Historical Museum • Galveston Naval Museum • Galveston Railroad Museum • Galveston Tree Sculptures • Galveston’s 61st Street Fishing Pier • Garten-Verein • Historic Pleasure Pier •
Hotel Galvez • Menard Mansion • Moody Gardens • Moody Mansion • Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum • Old Galveston Customs and Court House • Powhatan House • Rosenberg Library •
Samuel May Williams House • Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston • St. Joseph’s Church •
St. Mary Cathedral • Tall Ship Elissa • Texas Heroes Monument • Texas Seaport Museum • The Lyceum • 1900 Great Storm Statue
